International Women’s Day last year was marked by numerous events such as protests in South Korea in support of the #MeToo movement and a feminist strike in Spain. The latter was supported by mayors in Madrid and Barcelona a recent report from the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) has shed light on the states with the widest gender pay gaps.
The report found that, in every state in America, women earn less than men on average, with the disparity particularly pronounced for women of colour. In some states, the gender pay gap is shockingly wide. So where is it worst? Read on to find out.
South Korea has the most work to do in order to close the wage gap. OECD data shows that in 2017, a male worker in South Korea would outearn his female counterpart by 34.6 percent. The problem is also highly evident in other Asian countries, especially Japan.
The study found that women are also less likely to receive bonuses and other forms of compensation than men. As a result, the gender pay gap continues to be a major issue in the workplace. However, there are signs that progress is being made.
In recent years, more companies have begun to address the issue head-on by implementing policies that promote gender equality. With continued effort, it is hoped that the gender pay gap will eventually be closed for good..
Where The Gender Pay Gap Is Widest 2019
% difference in full-time earnings between men/women in selected OECD nations
12. South Korea
- 34.6%
11. Japan
- 24.5%
10. Chile
- 21.1%
9. Canada
- 18.2%
8. The United States
- 18.2%
7. United Kingdom
- 16.5%
6. Germany
- 15.5%
5. Australia
- 14.3%
4. Spain
- 11.5%
3. France
- 9.9%
2. Italy
- 5.6%
1. Greece
- 4.5%
The gender wage gap is defined as the difference between the median earnings of men and women relative to median earnings of men. Data refer to full-time employees on the one hand and to self-employed on the other.
